Harika starts Reykjavik campaign with easy win over Magnusson

Reykjavik (Iceland), April 20 (IANS) Indias Grandmaster Harika Dronavalli began her campaign at the Rejkjavik Open in style, easily beating local lad Magnus Magnusson at the Herpa Concert Hall here.

Starting with black, the World No.11 took control of the game in the opening itself, forcing her opponent into a series of mistakes here late on Wednesday night.

"Magnus made a number of strategic errors and I exploited them to outplay him," the Guntur lass said after the match.

The tournament which offers an impressive prize purse of 5,000 euros (about $5379) to the winner is in its 32nd year of existence.

It is a 10-round Swiss tournament with a time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, with a further 30 minutes added till the end of the game, with a 30-second increment from the first move.

The 2521 ELO-rated player from India is playing back to back matches on the opening day and takes on FIDE Master John Doknjas of Canada later on Thursday.

A total of 266 players from across the globe are competing this year.

Apart from Harika, the other Indians in the fray are Abhijeet Gupta, Magesh Panchanatan, Abhijit Kunte and Rameshbabu Praggnanadhaa.

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